Book-rest and writing-slab



(No Model.) 3 sheetssheet 1.

1 C. K. GAINBS. BOOK REST AND WRITING SLAB. l No. 469,133. Patented'feb.16, 1892.

I I A T TURA/E75 m News semis co1. mom-uma, mmm-.m1, pA c,

(No Model.) 3 Sheets- Sheet 2. C. K. GAINBS.

BOOK REST AND WRITING SLAB. No. 469,133. Patented Feb. 16,'1-892.

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(No Mom.) 3 'Sheets-sneer va. G. K. GAINES. 1 BOOK REST AND WRITINGSLAB.

Patented Feb. 16, 1892.

WIT/VESSES we News Farms ca.. moraumu.. wmurfm n c UNITED STATES ATENTOFFICE.

CHARLES K. GAINES, OF CANTON, NElV YORK.

BooK-REST AND WRITING-SLAB.-

SPECIFI'CATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 469,133, datedFebruary 16, 1892.

Application filed May 15, 1891. Seria-1110. 392,807. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES K. GAInEs, of Canton, in the county of St.Lawrence and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Book-Restand Vriting-Slab, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention has for its objects to provide an improved adjustableattachment for the arm of a chair or other seat which is adapted fordual use as a book-rest and book-holder, and also to supportwriting-paper, movably retaining either article in any desiredposition.V

To these ends my invention consists in the construction and combinationof parts, as is hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective front elevation of the device adjusted tosupport a book shown in position thereon and a chair-arm in sectionwhereon the book-support is secured. Fig. 2 is a front face View of thedevice in a perpendicular position detached from the chair-arm. Fig. 3is a rear face view of the parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is atransverse section taken on the line 4 4 in Fig. 2, viewed in thedirection of an arrow in said gure. Fig. 5 is a detached view of aportion of the book-support.

Fig. G is a side view of the device adjusted for service as aWriting-slab and mounted on a chair-arm shown in section and broken awayfrom the chair. Fig. 7 is a side view of the device adjusted as abook-rest secured on a chair-arm shown broken away. Fig. 8 is a rearview of parts shown in Fig. 7 similarly adjusted. Fig. 9 is a plan viewof the baseboard of the device detached. Fig. 10 is a longitudinalsection of the base-board, taken on the line 10 10 in Fig. 9. Fig. 11 isa top view of the device in place on a chair-arm adjusted tohold paperfor writing purposes. Fig. 12 is a front view of a slightly-modifiedform of the securing mechanism that movably retains the book-rest inproper adjustment upon `the tablet or slab that sustains the book; andFig. 13 is a longitudinal section of the parts shown in Fig. 12, takenon the line 13 13 in said v figure.

In the different views where shown A represents the base-board, whereonother parts f the device are sustained, and consists of a rhomb-shapedpiece of material having Sudicient length, breadth, and thickness forstrength and to aford the necessary support to the imposed parts, whichwill be described in their order.

The base-board A is designed to be secured adjustably upon the arm B ofa chair, (not showm) and to facilitate such a connection the arm istransversely slotted, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 11, there being alongitudinal slot formed near the center of width of the base-board andat a suitable distance from the ends to receive a bolt o, whereby Vthe'board A may be firmly attached in place on the arm and bealtered inposition as may be desired, two longitudinally-extending ribs b, locatedone along each side edge of the board on its lower surface, providingchecks that limit the swinging movement of the same when adjusted, and atransverse rib c on the upper surface at the forward edge 'of said boardserves to prevent warping or splitting of the same, and is otherwiseuseful as a support for another piece, which will be described.

On the lower diagonal transverse edge of the base-board A a bar D -ishinged, that is attached to the lower surface of the writingslab E nearits lower end, which slabr is also utilized as a support for a book,paper, or manuscript to be used, as will appear.

vThe slab E is formed of any proper Inaterial, and. is rhomboidal incontour, its angular shape being substantially similar to that of thebase-board A, having a nearly equal width and increased length ascompared thereto.

Upon the lower side land near the upper end of the slab E a transversestifteningstrip CZ is affixed, which by preference is eX- tendedsutliciently over the side edges of the slab to engage the lower sidesof two springbars F F', which are oppositely located parallel to theside edges of the slab and at an equal distance therefrom.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 4., the side edges of the slab E andadjacentedges of the springfrom end to end of the bars, said bars havingtheir upper terminals coincident with the lower edge of the transversestrip d and their lower extremities aligning with the lower edge of theslab whereon they are affixed, there being an adjusting-screw e insertedthrough each bar from their outer edges near their upper ends and intothe edges of the slab E, which screws by their adjustment clamp the barstoward the edges of the slab, as may be required.

The slide-blocks G, previously mentioned, are designed to sustain theend portions of a book-ledge l, which latter is hinged in a peculiarmanner to the slide-blocks, as shown clearly in Figs. ll and l2. Oneblock, pref` erably on the left side of the slab E, is provided with apivot connection to the hingeleaf that engages it, as at'g, the otherleaf of this hinge g being of ordinary form and screwed fast upon thevertical face of the ledge I. If desired, the pivoted connection g ofthe hinge g may be changed to a slotted form, as shown in Fig. l1. Thehinge h which connects the other slide-block G to the opposite endportion of the book-ledge I, has its leaf h slotted, as shown, for theloose connection of this leaf with the block mentioned by the insertionof a pivot or screw through said slot into the block, such a connectionof parts acting, in conjunction with the slideblocks when these arefree, to move in the channels e,- permitting said lblocks to be slid soas to afford any desired degree of inclination to the edge of thebook-ledge I.

The preferred means for securing the bookledge I at any desired anglewith regard to the channels e consists in the provision of aclamping-bar J, that is designed to draw the exterior edges of thespring-bars F F toward each other, and thus retain the slide-blocks Gwherever they may be moved while the spring-bar is unclamped.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that the clamping-bar J ismade of a greater length than the width of the slab E and attachedspring-bars F F', having shoulders produced at t' t" a proper distancefrom each terminal end, the material being reduced in thickness betweensaid shoulders to enable the barto embrace wedgin g devices attached tothe exterior edges of the spring-bars. On one spring-bar F, between theclamping-bar shoulder t' and its own exterior edge,- a pair vofoppositely-sloped wedges k 7o are located. The Wedge 7a, being securedby screws k2 upon the edge ot' the spring between the fixed wedge andthe spring-bar, may be adjusted endwise and retained at any desiredpoint by one of the securing-screws. The opposite shoulder t" of theclamping-bar J is grooved on its face transversely, forminga hook uponthis end of the clamping-bar, whichoverlaps a cam-sloped projection m,which projects from the springbar F.

As indicated in Fig. 3, the clamping-bar J is longitudinally slotted ata point where it is imposed upon the spring-bar F for the introductionof a screw, which is a pivot-point for said bar, whereon it may bevibrated to cause the shoulder t" to press upon the cam projection m anddraw the spring-bars toward each other, so as to lock the slide-blocksG, or be oppositely moved and release said' blocks when this isnecessary, the slot in the clamping-bar allowing it to have sufficientmovement endwise to lock or release the blocks, as stated.

Upon the rear side of the slab E at a proper point there is a prop-barK, loosely secured by hinging one end of the bar thereto, the otherpendent end of said bar having an interlocking engagement with aratchet-toothed' rack K that is formed on or secured to the base-boardA, as represented in Figs. 8 and 9, the prop and rack affording means toadjust the slab E at any desired inclination from a horizontal position.

There are a number of perforations 'n formed in the `side of thebook-ledge I for the reception of a dowel-pin n,that` projects from theside of a keeper-strip L, which latter is thus held projected from theledge to have impinging contact with the leaves of a book that restsagainst the ledge when the device is used as a book-support. (See Fig.l.)

lt will be noticed in Fig. 8 that the rack K is extended diagonally onthe base-board A and prop-bar K inclined sidewise to track therewith,the effect of which arrangement is to support a book on the slab Einclined toward the reader on the right side, it being understood thatt-he device is secured as an entirety upon the right arm of a chair sothat the position of a book, magazine, or paper may be altered to suitthe incidence of lig'ht rays or the vision of the occupant of the chairwhereon the book-rest is placed.

By provision of the clamping-bar J and its peculiar attachment to theslide-blocks G, as described, its movementat one end will enable thereader to instantly change the degree of inclination of the book-ledgeI, so as IOO IIOv

to raise or lower one side edge of the book,

while its inclination from a horizontal plane can be effected with equalfacility.

When the device is used to support reading matter, one lor more of thecylindrical pins o, shown supported at the right nearthe top of the slabE in Fig. 1, may be removed and inserted in one or more of theperforations 'n in the book-ledgeI and afford means to hold the leavesof a book open or a newspaper or manuscript in place on the slab E,taking the place of the keeper-strip L.

At the upper end of the'slab E aseries of parallel transverse channels pare formed for the reception of a pen or pencil, as represented in Figs.ll and l2, and to enable the user to readily pick up either for servicea V-shaped notch r is cut out of the slab from its upper edge downwardlyacross the channels, which will expose the pen-handle or penl cil-body,as plainly indicated, so that any such instrumentsfor writing may beheld securely and be taken from the channels freely.

Vhen the slab E is used to write upon, the prop-bar K is preferablyadjusted to lower said slab nearer a horizontal plane, as represented inFigs. 6 and 1l, a paper-holding clip M of ordinar57 form being provided,which is I afxed at a proper point on the slab so as to grip and retainwriting-paper in place unobstructed by the ledge I, which is turned downso as to lie in the same plane with the slab E at its lower edge andform a continua# ledge that is in, contact therewith, so that thelslide-blocks G may be moved and retained at any point that the hinges ofthe book-ledge will allow by simply rocking the ledge so as to clear thetoothed racks, and when adjusted permitting the ledge to rest by itsgravity in locked contact with said racks.

In case the modification j ust described is employed the clamping-bar Jmay be dispensed with and the adjustment for the proper frictionalcontact of the slide-blocks G .be effected with the screws e in anobvious manner.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

I. The combination, with a board or slab, of blocks longitudinallyadjustable on the slab or board to the extreme end thereof and a ledgehinged to the said blocks so as to be turned down into the sameplanewith the slab and form a continuation thereof, substantially asdescribed.

2. The combination, with a slab or board,-

of blocks fitted to slide longitudinally on the board to the extreme endthereof and aledge hinged to the said blocks so as to be turned downinto the same plane with the slab and form a continuation thereof,substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a slab or board, of blocks fitted to slidelongitudinally on the slab or board to the cxtremeend thereof, a ledgehinged to the blocks, and means for adjustin g the said blocks, wherebythe ledge may be turned to be at right angles to the slab or made to liein the same plane therewith, substantially as herein shown anddescribed.

4. The combination, with a slab or board provided with guideways, ofblocks fitted to slide in said guideways, means for adj ustably holdingthe blocks in said guideways, and a ledge hinged to the said blocks, oneof the hinges having apivotal connection with one of the blocks and theother hinge having a sliding connection with the other block, sub'-stantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination, with a slab or boardv provided with spring-bars onopposite sides and with channels between the bars and the side edges ofthe board or slab, of blocks fitted to slide in the channels, a ledgehinged to the blocks, a pivoted' clamping-bar, and a cam projection onone of the spring-bars with which the clamping-barengages,substantiallyas herein shown and described.

6. The combination,with abase-board which is adapted to be secured adjustably on a seatarm and is provided with a rack on its upper surface,of a flat slabV hinged near its lower edge on the lower edge of thebase-board, a prop hinged to the slab engaging the rack, a book-ledgeextending transversely across the lower end of the slab and having asliding and hinged connection therewith, and a device for retaining thebook-ledge in place, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with abase-board that is securable adjustably upon achair-arm, a ratchet-cut rack thereon, a slab having a transverse ribthat is hinged on the base-board near its lower edge, and a pendent prophinged by one end on the slab to engage its free end with the rack, oftwo springfbars on the edges of the slab, separated therefrom by equalchannels, a slide-block in each channel, a transverse book-ledge hingedto the slide-blocks, and a clamping-bar engaging the spring-bars,

substantially as described.

8. The combination, with abase-board having a diagonal rack, of a slabhinged obliquely to the base-board and provided with a prop inclinedsidewise and engaging the rack, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

9. In a combined book-rest and writingslab, a slab having its topsurface transversely channeled in series near the upper edge to receivewriting implements, the top edge of said slab having a V-shaped notchcut therein to permit the free removal of the pen orpencil,substantially as described.

lO. In a combined book-rest and Writingslab, the combination, with abase-board adj ustably securable on a chair-arm, a hinged slab thereon,a spring-bar at each side edge of the slab, separated therefrom by equalchannels, and a slide-block in each channel, of a book-rest hinged tothe slide-blocks," one of the hinges having a pivotal connection withone of the slide-blocks and the otherhinge having a sliding 'connectionwith the other block, substantially as described.

1]. In a combined book-rest and writingslab, the combination, with abase-board adj ustably secured on a chair-arm, a diagonal rack thereon,a hinged slab, a hinged prop on the slab, a spring-bar at each side edgeof the slab, separated equally and mainly therefrom, a slide-block foreach spring-bar, working in grooves in said bars and adjacent edges ofthe slab, a hinged book-ledge perforated to IIO recevea dowel-pn on akeeper-strip, and a clamping -bar may impinge and hug the keeper-strofaclamping-bar havin g aslioulspring-bars ou the Slide-blocks,substantially Io del' .near .eac'11,eud, Wedges adjustable 011 one asdescribed. spring-bar, that engage a shoulder on the' i 'i f Tclamping-bal', said @1am ping-barbeing slotted CHARLES Il GAI E'S and.pivoted in said slot ou .the lSpring-bar Vitnesses:

mentioned, and acam projection on theothei NELSON L. ROBINSON,Spring-bai', that rhe remaining shoulder of JACOB I. TALLMAN.

